Inflatable baseball glove

Abstract

Disclosed is an inflatable baseball glove that allows the user to catch foul or home run balls while attending a baseball game in a safe and effective manner. Constructed of a plastic or rubber material similar to that used to construct inflatable beach balls, water toys and the like, the inflatable glove is inexpensive to produce, nevertheless having the durability to withstand repeated use. The rubber / plastic construction of the glove is conducive to the printing of team colors or logos thereon as a promotional, souvenir-type item.

Description

1. Field of the InventionThe present invention relates generally to baseball gloves and mitts, and more specifically to an inflatable baseball glove for use in catching foul balls and the like while attending a baseball game.2. Description of the Related ArtBaseball is truly the great American pastime, drawing both active participation at a variety of levels and serving as entertainment for audiences across the globe. When viewing a major league baseball game in person, one of the greatest thrills that can befall a baseball lover is to catch a foul ball or, better yet, a home run. While these souvenirs are distributed routinely during every game, the odds that one will be sent the way of a single fan out of the thousands in attendance maintains this occurrence as a rarity. As a result, when one gets a chance to catch a foul ball or home run, he or she had better make the best of it as second chances do not come easy. Accordingly, many fans choose to bring along a baseball glove when...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The following patents describe conventional baseball gloves that are fit with variably inflatable pneumatic bladders that serve to enhance the cushioning capacity of the glove, providing a more comfortable feel:

The present invention consists of an inflatable baseball glove that allows the user to catch foul or home run balls in a safe and effective manner. Taking the form of a conventional baseball glove, the inflatable glove has an interior hand compartment contoured to receive the shape of the users hand and forms an enlarged outer surface having a padded, webbed design that creates a ball receiving or catching pocket. Constructed of a plastic or rubber material similar to that used to construct inflatable beach balls, water toys and the like, the inflatable glove is inexpensive to produce, nevertheless having the durability to withstand repeated use. An inflation valve located on the back of the wrist portion of the glove allows for manual inflation using one's mouth. The rubber / plastic construction of the glove is conducive to the printing of team colors or logos thereon as a promotional, souvenir-type item.

In an alternate embodiment, an otherwise conventional leather outer glove is provided with an inflatable interior hand compartment contoured to receive the shape of the users hand and forms an enlarged outer surface having a padded, webbed design that provides both additional fit as well as additional cushioning to a ball receiving or catching pocket. An inflation valve allows for manual inflation.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an inflatable baseball glove that allows a user to safely and effectively catch foul or home run balls.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable baseball glove that will fit the hands of a variety of users, in a one-size-fits-all manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an inflatable baseball glove that is constructed of a rubber or plastic material that is lightweight, strong and durable to withstand the rigors of repeated use.

Problems solved by technology

As a result, when one gets a chance to catch a foul ball or home run, he or she had better make the best of it as second chances do not come easy.

Furthermore, being struck by these hard, fast moving projectiles can cause serious injuries, and the baseball glove can serve as protection therefrom.

Many people, however, do not own baseball gloves and the price of a new one is extremely prohibitive.

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